Sproat, Pitcher, St. Louis Whites, from the Old Judge series (N172) for Old Judge Cigarettes 1888

This 1888 trading card, part of the "Old Judge" series, features Ed. Sproat, a pitcher for the St. Louis Whites. The sepia-toned photograph, created by Goodwin & Company, depicts Sproat in his uniform, holding a baseball in his throwing hand. The card, printed on a small sheet of paper, was part of a promotional campaign for Old Judge Cigarettes, using baseball players to advertise the brand. These cards became popular collector's items and are considered important artifacts of baseball history.